I listened to the first few tracks on Slavland's Tarcza Swaroga album, and musically I quite liked it, but I hate the underground production. It sounds like a bad real audio rip circa 1998. So anything with one or more of those requests, the clearer the production the better, would be appreciated.

Just 2 posts above yours, Martolea is an example of great use of flute in folk metal.

I just listened to the first three tracks off of Noaptea Dihăniilor, and I didn't like it at all. Judging by those songs, it's much more black metal with folk elements than folk metal. And there was a little bit of harmonized flute in the first track, but only very little. There was hardly any flute at all in the second track. The third track had a flute throughout, but no harmonizations.

I've recently gotten into some Slavic Pagan Black Metal from the Balkans (StriboG and Maras, namely) and I've tried searching for more of the sort, but I've been unable to come up with anything like them. In general I'm looking for a band which writes its lyrics in a Slavic language (Macedonian, Serbian, Croatian, whatever) and has some folksy undertones, though that's not as important.

how about the Triarchy of Vasconia* split release Iluntasunaren Itzulera?

*Adhur, Aiumeen Basoa, and Ilbeltz. (the latter two have since released their debut LP; Ilbeltz would probably appeal most, though Aiumeen Basoa's album is better than their offering on the split release)

Great split. I love how the lyrics are in Basque. I do not understand a word but I like it when the language matches the sound.

vengefulgoat wrote:

I also can recommend Hordak from Spain, check album The Last European Wolves. Abit like spanish Forefather. You might also enjoy La Caruta di li Dei from Italy, but the production on keys and drums is horrible.

I know of and like Hordak. I can't get over La Caruta di li Dei production.

I would like to find bands like a European-Mediterranean versions of Nile and Bathory, along with European-Mediterranean Temnozors. Anyone else know of Mediterranean bands?

Which album(s) have the biggest presence of instruments like tin whistles and flutes? (not necessarily bag pipes)

Well Evocation I - The Arcane Dominion obviously has the most prominent folk feel, and the folk instruments are noticable on pretty much every track, as I recall.

Of the non-acoustic albums, Everything Remains As It Never Was has the strongest folk presence, in my opinion. "Kingdome Come Undone" is the only song of that that is really dissapointing in that respect. It fuses both the folk and metal aspects well, without neglecting either.

Slania is a bit more disjointed in mixing the folk and melodeath influences, and the metal aspects seem to overpower the folk in most of the songs, but the instrumental tracks (Samon, Anagantios, Giamonios, and Elvembvios) are some of the best songs Eluvetie has done, folk-wise.

Helvetios has the loudest folk instruments, but for a good portion of the album, the folk instruments aren't even there, which makes it very hit and miss in that regard.

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Wilytank wrote:

I once knew a guy that stole another guy's virginity and sold it on the black market for some FUCKIN' WEED.

have you ever heard the debut album of Borknagar? If not - do so asap! It was the blue print for Moonsorrow's best "Verisäkeet" and I think Henri from Moonsorrow once mentioned it as one of his influences. This album is in no way comparable to what Borknagar play nowadays and is my personal "black with pagan/folk" faves. No humpa, no happiness. Purely archaic and fantastc.

I am looking for something similar in approach to Alkonost (especially the keyboards and guitar tone) but preferrably with folk instruments as well

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Smoking_Gnu wrote:

Hmm, I actually wouldn't mind buying him a sauna if it would reduce the odds of me getting infected by his excess sensitive-skin flakes that get blown off in the wind. I don't want to turn into a cunt.

I am looking for something similar in approach to Alkonost (especially the keyboards and guitar tone) but preferrably with folk instruments as well

I can't help you, but I've got a question:

What's Alkonost's doomiest album?

I am not sure to be honest. All I know of them still has an air of positivity, though not "cheerful" if that makes sense

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Smoking_Gnu wrote:

Hmm, I actually wouldn't mind buying him a sauna if it would reduce the odds of me getting infected by his excess sensitive-skin flakes that get blown off in the wind. I don't want to turn into a cunt.

I am looking for something similar in approach to Alkonost (especially the keyboards and guitar tone) but preferrably with folk instruments as well

I can't help you, but I've got a question:

What's Alkonost's doomiest album?

hm, long time since I listened to them so this might be not totally fitting... however - have a try with Natural Spirit ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxT6awf4Vc4 ) or Svarga's "Там, где дремлют леса…" album (possibly too folky?)

I'm looking for something similar to the songs 793 (Slaget om Lindisfarne) and Blood Fire Death. They both sound very epic and melodic and also make me picture horses charging into battle.

Sounds like you need some Morrigan (Germany). Their first few albums and especially their album "Headcult" has that epic, melodic quality. Their song "The Arrival of Dana" from their first album is essentially a cover of "Blood Fire Death," but also not. It's weird. They're not shy about wearing their Bathory influence on their sleeves. The last two albums were a little more sketchy, quality-wise, but the first four albums are solid.

I am looking for something similar in approach to Alkonost (especially the keyboards and guitar tone) but preferrably with folk instruments as well

Gray (aka Graj, Grai) and Ruyan are similar to Alkonost in many ways (they're all from the same region of Russia, and a member of Alkonost was a part of Ruyan for a while), but both use folk instruments.

Compared to my knowladge of Power Metal, the amount of Folk metal bands is relatively small. I am a fan of bands like Ensiferum, Turisas, Korpiklaani, Eluveitie, Equillibrium, Tyr, Alestorm and, to a lesser extent, Finntroll.

I would prefer to find a band that has english lyrics (which is understandably minimal in Folk Meta, so this isn't necessary) and has a Catchy, upbeat or otherwise epic lyrics. The cheesier the better! Thank you in advance :3.

Compared to my knowladge of Power Metal, the amount of Folk metal bands is relatively small. I am a fan of bands like Ensiferum, Turisas, Korpiklaani, Eluveitie, Equillibrium, Tyr, Alestorm and, to a lesser extent, Finntroll.

I would prefer to find a band that has english lyrics (which is understandably minimal in Folk Meta, so this isn't necessary) and has a Catchy, upbeat or otherwise epic lyrics. The cheesier the better! Thank you in advance :3.

Hello and welcome! Try out Finsterforst's debut album, it is upbeat and catchy and makes great use of the accordian, the other two albums are great to but take a darker path. If you enjoy Ensiferum you prob will like Pagan Reign also.

Can someone recommend me some of the best folk/viking metal albums they have heard in 2012?

The BIG one is Eluveitie's "Helvetios" which I very much enjoyed, being quite new to the band. While Ensiferum's "Unsung Heroes" isn't as strong as some earlier releases, I still think it's very good and worth every moment of your time. But the band I simply MUST recommend to any fan of Folk/Viking Metal would be Vanir's "Onwards into Battle". Some amazing keyboards and folk instruments set to some amzingly catchy melodies there. Hope this helps .

Can someone recommend me some of the best folk/viking metal albums they have heard in 2012?

There were some good albums released in 2012 (though not as many, IMO, as previous years, though I certainly haven't heard all of them), but the highlight for me was the new Finsterforst album. Wodensthrone, Winterfylleth, Dordeduh, Eluveitie, and Skalmold had solid albums last year as well.

Viking and Pagan "metal" aren't genres, they are lyrical themes to folk metal. I request that they be removed from the title, as it encourages the promotion of false labels.

pagan (as in Pagan Black Metal, or just Pagan Metal) often refers to a vocal style, found often in Pagan/Folk metal bands, but also non-Folk Black or RAC/etc. projects from Europe.

good effort being a tool with your first post, though.

Pagan music is not solely metal. Metal classified as "Pagan" is simply folk or folk/black or whatever actual genre with Pagan being the lyrical themes, but without any common sense, I can see how you drew your conclusion.

Pagan music is not solely metal. Metal classified as "Pagan" is simply folk or folk/black or whatever actual genre with Pagan being the lyrical themes, but without any common sense, I can see how you drew your conclusion.

your taxonomy suggests you have no way of knowing whether or not a song is pagan metal unless you speak the language. for plenty of fans of folk metal, this isn't the case.I could tell you pretty reliably based on the vocals* I hear whether or not a band is in the pagan/folk sphere, understanding not a word of what is said.

*obviously I need to hear more than just the DM or BM vokills they might also use, as that alone, no matter what lyrics they utter, never qualifies anyone as pagan metal, except in your scheme.

Looking for some acoustic Slavonic folk music. Sort of like Arkona or Lunar Poetry-era Nokturnal Mortum but without the metal.

Hmm, have you listened to Лихолесье (Liholesie)? They are more ambient folk than pure Slavonic folk, but worth checking out. There is also this band from far East Russia, called Волколак (Volkolak), they released like three albums of pure Slavonic folk, it's pretty repetitive and cheesy, but catchy if you like that kind of music. They are tied to the NS scene, which doesn't bother me, but I wanted to point this out before getting spat on. There is also Perunwit from Poland, Piorun and Wojnar.

Looking for some acoustic Slavonic folk music. Sort of like Arkona or Lunar Poetry-era Nokturnal Mortum but without the metal.

Krynitza is good acoustic folk music from Russia. The main guy, Rodoslav, has been involved with a few pagan/folk metal projects like Temnozor (he does some of the clean vocals for them now), Oprich, and Vo Skorbyah.